I've probably upset you...I didn't mean to, however you might want to read a few of the independent reviews I did. Not specifically for the products they represent, but for the basic information they contain.

Start with this one above and read it carefully....For espresso machines and some good basic information on how they work, a couple of 18 page reviews (with pictures) for the HX and DB machines. Have a look for my reviews on their site. Oh, before anyone says anything, no arguments with me about the Vario, I found what I found and much of what I said has been borne out by owner experience. From my own perspective a grinder should be something you don't need to think about, worry about and certainly not post about. You won't find massive threads about other grinders e.g. Mazzer. I know customer support is fantastic (but it shouldn't need to be) and when I compare it with Mazzer, I'm reminded of this advert that was on TV many many years ago:

The biggest problem with Used Mazzer grinder and them not performing the way they should sometimes, are aftermarket, rather than OEM Burrs. It's surprisingly difficult to be sure you are getting OEM burrs. That said a used Mazzer, if you can get one, is a great investment Mini or Mini E. Otherwise the larger Rossi RR45 often go for cheap money when used.

If you really can't afford a good grinder, the cheaper ones will work quite well with a Carafe/Presspot for making coffee.

P.S. Avoid the Isomac grinder if you can, there is much better for the same money. In the UK a decently priced Grinder is the Eureka Mignon.

Yes, David, you do go hard on new people like you are pissed off because they have in your eyes, bought the wrong machine.I read some things here at the forum and could read only from the wording that it was you.

A dead friend of mine used to say: Line, you are the cleverest I know of that can say unpleasant things in a nice way. So there are a hundred ways to say one and the same..Apology accepted!! :-)

I will read what you have written now that we have buried the hatchet.

Having just been at the sole supplier of "fresh" vacuum packed beans and bought some.Now I have to hunt for grinder, and it's only available online so if you have a link so feel free to share. Guess you have the same power system as us, 230V?

I don't "think" the Eureka is available in Finland? You could buy from another European buyer...wherever you can get best price. Bella Barista certainly have them, but I don't know how much delivery would be or whether you can get it cheaper.

As for fresh vacuum packed beans, really you can only go by a roasted on date, some roasters are sneaky and will put a "packed on date", they pack into very large bags, then break em down when they need to into smaller retail backs and use a "packed date". Unfortunately this is interpreted as a roasted by date by many consumers.

I think you see my comments as harsh, because at the moment, "you don't know what you don't know" and as a consumer, will find it very difficult to gain knowledge by personal experience. You simply won't get the chance to own/use more than a few machines or grinders. For me it's very different, I have a big advantage as I get the chance to use many machines, grinder and roasters..

People buy these sort of things to grind beans and make brown liquid...now these sort of things really are big mistakes.

Nooooo!.......you seem to have the unerring ability to choose, equipment that is..not the best. I owned a Gaggia MM grinder many, many years years ago, truly nasty grinder. If you can take it back for a refund (if you have not used it), please do so. Not everything with the name Gaggia on it is great quality...some equipment is, others not so much.....See i've done it again, just rubbished your equipment...sorry.

I am afraid I don't know very much about Norway, except that you have fjords, go to bed early and it's nice and quiet, cold and expensive. In fact I know as much about Norway as Finland.....which isn't much. ;-)

Don't listen to Dave. It's not that he's rude -- he's perhaps a bit brusque, but he means well. The fact is that the Gaggia MM will work, but it's far from your best option. Well, so be it. We cannot all spend 100,000+ NOK on equipment! The fact is that, with your MM and freshly roasted beans, the quality of your espresso should definitely improve.

Everything is relative. While the Gaggia MM is a very basic grinder for espresso, it will be a huge step above the ground coffee ground you have been purchasing at the store. There will be two benefits - the coffee will be much more fresh when you grind it when you need it at home, and you will be able to adjust the grind to match the machine which is a critical step in the process. I will once again recommend that you reference my website www.EspressoMyEspresso.com, and check out this article: 12 - EASY GUIDE TO BETTER ESPRESSO AT HOME

I was new here not that long ago. And you have an added problem with language issues. People here have very strong opinions about coffee and equipment or they would not be on this site. Strong opinions sometimes sound rude or make people uncomfortable. Often they are not sugar coated and with the internet you can't hear voice and see body language. If you saw the person saying the opinion face to face you might realize it was passion not anger that makes it sound strongly worded. And if they could see your reaction they might soften the delivery, but we don't have that on the internet forums. Adding to that people from the USA tend to be more direct than is considered polite in other places I can see why you were upset. But I read the posts and I don't believe that any one here was really trying to hurt you but they were trying to tell you what they thought in no uncertain terms.

Now for my advice, GRINDER GRINDER GRINDER. It is so hard to understand when you start out with an entry level machine you will spend as much or more for a good grinder. But it makes more difference in the cup. If you read this site a lot you will see people say that they can make good espresso on a cheap pump machine and a great grinder but can't make good espresso on a top of the line machine and chopper grinder. It is very hard to understand how this is true but it is really true. Where you are there should be a lot of old hand grinders that are often better burrs than new entry level electric grinders. I am not an expert but I would start being on the look out in car boot sales and church sales for vintage hand coffee grinders. I would read up on them so I would know a good one when I saw it and you might be able to get a great old grinder cheaply.

I am very happy with my vario grinder and I have had it almost a year and it has not given me any problems. I recommend them based on my service and meeting the company.

Everything is relative. While the Gaggia MM is a very basic grinder for espresso, it will be a huge step above the ground coffee ground you have been purchasing at the store. There will be two benefits - the coffee will be much more fresh when you grind it when you need it at home, and you will be able to adjust the grind to match the machine which is a critical step in the process. I will once again recommend that you reference my website www.EspressoMyEspresso.com, and check out this article: 12 - EASY GUIDE TO BETTER ESPRESSO AT HOME

Thanks for a nice article, also considering that I've actually done some of what you write about. The new grinder is being tested on how "finely ground" my machine want it. I can only say that we, fortunately, are approaching! ;-)

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